Spring-wheel.



R, E. ANULD sa 0.1. HOGKETT.

` SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 26, 1909.

994,297'.` A l Patented June 6,1911.

2 BHEETB-SHEET 1.

i B. ARNoLD'a. c. PfHocIiBTT.

SPRING WHEEL. APPLIOATION Hrm) un. ze, 1909.

Patented June 6, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" WML unirsi) srnrns PATENT REX vE. ARNOLD .AND CLARKSON P. HOGKETT, OF KOUTS, INDIANA.

spinne-WHEEL. V

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 26, 1909.- Serial No. 492,215.

have invented certain new and useful Im-4 provements in Sp1ing-lVlieels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new l and useful improvements in vehicle wheels of that type designed particularlyfor use on automobiles or the like, and the invention has for its 'object an improved device of this character embodying a' plurality ,of

spring-spokes which afford suflicient resiliency of structure to admit of the rim of the wheel moving into eccentric relation to the hub. whereby to absorb the shocks incident to travel without employing a pneumatic tire that is liable to puncture and is otherl wise objectionable.

A further object of the invention is an improved wheel in which the spokes aresecured in such a manner as to be susceptible of being readily removed and replaced by new ones without employing skilled labor,

the wheel being also comparatively simple in structure, so as to be capable 0f being easily and cheaply manufactured.

Wi `h these and other objects in viewr that will more fully appear as `the description proceeds,'the linvention consists incertain constructions -and arrangements of theV parts that we shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claim;

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and .also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction,

40 4reference is to be had to the' following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure lis a side elevation of a .wheel 'constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is a transversesection thereof;

i.50 Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indisame reference characters.

Oui improved wheel embodies a hub 1 which is substantially in the -fopm of a spool and is provided at its -opposite en ds l cated in all the views of the drawing by the with outstanding annular flanges 2. Each of the flanges is formed in its outer face 'with a concentric groove 3 and with a plurality of slots or channels 4: extending ra- Patented J une' 6, 1911.-

dia'lly outwardly from the groove and open- `ing through the periphery of the liange, as

best seen in Fig.

5 designates the spokes that are composed of flat bars of steel or other suitable resilient material, and that are arranged in two series with their .inner ends fitted in the slots 4 of the respective flanges. At their inner extremities the spokes are angularly disposed, as indicated at G, to constitute heads which are received in the grooves 3 to hold the spokes against withdrawal from the slots 4, the heads of the alternate spokes of each series facingin one circular direction, while the heads of the remaining spokes face in the opposite circular direction, such an arrangement being advantageous in that the wheel is braced during both the forward and rearward movement ofthe vehicle. Y

- Annular cover plates 7 are arrangedat the opposite ends of the hub and are designed to be positionedv in abutting relation to the outer faces ofthe respective flanges and to be detachably secured thereto by screws 8 or other approved fastening means, the

plates serving to close the grooves andslots toreta-in the spokes in position against ac`` cidental' lateral displacement. Each plate is formed in its inner face with an inwardly disposed annular rib 9 which registers with the' corresponding grooveB and is arranged to impinge against the heads 6 as the cover plate is. drawn up tight against the flange.

The corresponding spokes 5 of the two series are oppositely curved or bowed along radial lines and preferably converge outwardly so that their outer ends lie side by side, as will be observed by reference to Fig. 2, the spokes being connected to the rim `1Q that is of any conventionalvform. In pra-cf` tice it has been found desirable to establish hinge connections between the outer ends of the spokes and the rim, soA as to admit of such outer ends having a limited turning movementabout transverse axes with respect to the rim,` whereby to relieve the outer ends 'of the spokes of excessive strain as the spokes are bent abnormally under the weight of the load. To attain this object, the spokes are enlarged .at their outer ends to forniV tend transversely of the respective spokes and at right angles to the length thereof, the heads of the corresponding spokes ot the two series being arranged end to end and being supported in outwardly divergent relation by virtue of tlievoutwardly convergent disposition of said spokes, as above mentioned. .Each pair of adjacentheads ll is mounted in a tubular socket 12 extending transversely of a metallic block 13, the. socketv having a contracted opening through the inner face of the bleek so as to aliord the v@pokes suliieient play to enable the heads te turn slightly within the socket. Intermediate of its ends the soc-liet has an angular disposition, so as to form outwardly dirergent seating portions to accommodate the respective heads, the ends of the socket opening outwardly at opposite sides of the. bloei: in order to perinit the heads to be slipped laterally into the seating portions and withdrawn therefrom, as i'ieeasion demands. A pair oi' 'faire plates lli. aliut against opl ite sides` of the bloeit 13 and extend acrossy the ends oli' the socket l2 to close the f`:aine and l thus maintain the heads againstremoval,

the plates being` extended outwardly to lie against opposite sides of the run and bel ing` bolted or otherwise detachably secured thereto (see Fig. 2),

nient. rlhere a Series of blocks 13 which are bolted or otherwise suitably seeiired at l intervals to the iiiiier lace et' the riiii and which are equal in iiuiiioer to the nuiiibei of pairs ot' ei'iiarsrpondiniy spokes.

ln the practical use ot our improved wheel ity is to be observed 'that the spokes establish a yielding` tween the hul; and the i'iii'i, so that when the wheel travels Ji'ei' rough ground the i'iin may assuii'ie eeeeiilrie relation to the liuli, to eliieetually ahfsor'ii Shocks and prevent their transmission to the body ol' the vehieha thereby suppleiiuniting;- the work olf the vihiele si'iiiiiga and rendering uiiiier: saary the use ot the objeetioiiahle pneumatic tire.

Attention is directed to the taety that' should one ol the spring-spolws lieeo'nic whereby to assist in holding the block against lateral displaeecurved spriiigconnection liiebroken, the damage may be, repaired with facility, it beingr only necessary to detach `the corresponding Cover plate 7 and tace plate let, after which the said spoke inay he quicldy slid late'ally out of' place and the new one sul'iatituted therefor. Such an operation does notrei'iiiire the ilse of skilled labor land uiay be per formed with the usual tools customarily included in an autonioliilists lliit, it being observed that :iii extra spoke niay he enii'iloyed to replace spokes of the wheel inasmuch as all of the spokes are cii'ihstantial duplicates. Furthern'iore the .vl'ieel possesses to a marked degree the charael'eristree of siniplieity, durability and strength, and adapted to be easily and cheaply manufactured so as to be susceptible of being;` placed on the market at a reasonable price.

l l a ving` thus described the invention what is claimed as new is: Y

resilient rehiele wheel eoiiiprisin; a hula two series'o'l spring spokes secured to l the huh and 'toriiied at their outer ends with ii'aiiwuersely disposed enlarged heads ot' subi staiitially cylindrical contour, the eorrei spending spokes ol the two series corti/orig;- l lireoutwardly with their heads supported end to end aiid arranged in outwardly dil verging relation, a. i'iiii provided with a series of sockets extending transversely i thereof and opening outwardly at. their opiLiosilo ends at opposite sides of the riin, each l ii-krt beine; diapos-.ed aiigiilarly intermediall` ot ilsl ends to torin outwardly divergent 5 seatingportions adapted to have the heads l ol :i pair oi correspoiidliig Spokes inserted f laterallyY lliereiii through the open ends ot' the a icl et. and iiieaiis delaelialily applied lo the riiii l'or closing the open ends of the sort-:els to iiiaiiilaiii the heads against aeridriilal displaeeii'ieiit lliei'elfroiii.

ln lealiriioiiy whereof' ivi allix our signa lures iii presence ot two witnesses.

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